Chapter Summaries

Jiang Lu impressed Senior Sister Huang Mei with her spirit-plant processing and was assigned to prepare herbs for her pill refining. After watching Huang Mei refine Qi-Replenishing Pills and explain their grades, Jiang Lu planned to repair her pill furnaces and begin refining pills herself.

• Huang Mei inspected Jiang Lu's processed spirit plants and assigned her to handle all the plants needed for her pill refining.
• Chen Qi told Jiang Lu that Huang Mei was a demanding young second-grade alchemist and advised her to be careful.
• Jiang Lu delivered carefully processed spirit plants to Huang Mei and watched her refine a batch of Qi-Replenishing Pills.
• Huang Mei explained that five pills were high-grade and two were mid-grade, and Jiang Lu recognized the difference by their smoothness and fullness.
• Jiang Lu decided to repair her damaged pill furnaces and prepare to start refining pills, while the other disciples reconsidered their earlier mockery of her.

Jiang Lu repaired two cheap pill furnaces and refined ten High-Grade Grain-Avoidance Pills on her first attempt, confirming her extraordinary pill-refining talent. She suspected her pure spirit flame and unusual Spiritual Roots were connected, and resolved to grow stronger while staying safe in Medicine King Pavilion.

• Jiang Lu told Chen Qi that Senior Sister Huang Mei had been kind and that watching her refine pills had taught her a lot.
• Jiang Lu repaired two damaged pill furnaces and returned to her room to attempt refining a Grain-Avoidance Pill.
• Jiang Lu refined ten High-Grade Pills on her first attempt, though the pill furnace broke, and she shared one pill each with Chi Li and Cangchen.
• Jiang Lu suspected her unusually pure spirit flame and anomalous Spiritual Roots explained her success, and she considered Medicine King Pavilion a safe place to grow stronger.
• Jiang Lu put away the ruined pill furnaces and began meditating, determined to compete with the Immortal Cultivation Realm’s prodigies.

Jiang Lu learned that a Beast Tide was approaching West River City and signed up with Medicine King Pavilion to join the organized expedition. After preparing pills and supplies, she went with the disciples to the city gates as Medicine King Pavilion headed out to face the first wave.

• Huang Mei explained that the coming Beast Tide had increased demand for pills and continued trying to refine third-grade pills.
• Jiang Lu learned Medicine King Pavilion organized disciples for the Beast Tide, registered with its team, and learned that teams had to follow orders and share a portion of their gains with the City Lord's Manor.
• Jiang Lu returned to her room and refined Essence-Stabilizing Pills and Qi-Replenishing Pills while preparing to test her cultivation on the expedition.
• Several days later, Jiang Lu packed her supplies and followed Medicine King Pavilion's disciples to the city gates as the faction set out for the first wave of the Beast Tide.

Jiang Lu joined Gu Miao’s Qi Refinement team for Beast Tide training, where the disciples prepared to patrol and share resources by contribution. On the third night, Chi Li and Cangchen sensed hundreds of demonic beasts approaching, and the team met the charging horde as Jiang Lu ordered her Spirit Beasts to hold it back.

• Jiang Lu reported to Gu Miao and heard the rules for the team’s duties and resource distribution.
• Gu Miao led the team into the forest and assigned Jiang Lu to the night patrol.
• On the third night, Chi Li warned Jiang Lu that several hundred first-rank demonic beasts were approaching, and she alerted Gu Miao and the other disciples.
• Gu Miao organized the team’s defenses, sent warnings to the other teams, and led the disciples into battle when the horde arrived.
• Jiang Lu fought with her sword while Chi Li and Cangchen guarded her, and she ordered them to hold back the beasts without revealing their unusual attacks.

Jiang Lu and the Medicine King Pavilion disciples survived a brutal beast attack, and Jiang Lu secretly obtained a crystal core from one of the beasts. After the teams reported the unexpectedly severe Beast Tide, City Lord Chi Yan reorganized the forces to strengthen their defenses.

• Jiang Lu, Cangchen, and Chi Li killed a massive beast, and Jiang Lu secretly stored its crystal core.
• Jiang Lu helped the other disciples finish the day’s fighting, then Gu Miao distributed pills and led the group to report what had happened.
• Gu Miao’s group joined the other battered teams, whose captains reported that the Beast Tide had grown far more severe than expected.
• Chi Yan ordered teams from two waves to combine and assigned alchemists and pill-makers to support the fighters instead of joining the battle.
• Gu Miao arranged the new teams, and Jiang Lu was left among the fighters because she had not revealed her ability to refine pills.

Jiang Lu cautioned Gu Miao that the unusual Beast Tide called for vigilance, while Chi Li and Cangchen secretly ventured into the forest to investigate its source. They found a red Spirit Pearl steeped in Demonic Qi that seemed to be drawing the beasts into submission, and began a plan to take it.

• Jiang Lu followed the stronger team to camp and told Gu Miao they should stay alert because the Beast Tide was behaving unusually.
• Chi Li and Cangchen slipped past the first line of defense after sensing an unusual aura in the forest.
• The pair found many beasts kneeling toward a red Spirit Pearl surrounded by Demonic Qi.
• Chi Li and Cangchen suspected a corrupted high-level beast was using the Spirit Pearl to lure and oppress the beasts.
• Cangchen sent a white ball of water toward the Spirit Pearl as the pair began their plan to seize it.

Cangchen and Chi Li purified the Water Spirit Pearl and escaped as the Demonic Qi spread through the forest, triggering a beast tide. They returned to Jiang Lu and told her what they had discovered, while cultivators awaited help and an unknown newcomer suggested investigating the riot.

• Cangchen and Chi Li used Chi Li’s Nirvana Flame and Cangchen’s water sphere to remove the Demonic Qi from the Water Spirit Pearl, then hid it and fled.
• The demonized beast deep in the forest realized the Spirit Pearl had disappeared, while Demonic Qi spread into the beasts and sent them into a frenzy.
• Roaring beasts alarmed the cultivators near West River City, and Jiang Lu worried about Cangchen and Chi Li as they waited for reinforcements.
• Cangchen and Chi Li returned to Jiang Lu’s pouch and told her about the Spirit Pearl, the Demonic Qi, and the powerful beast in the forest.
• Jiang Lu recognized that the crisis was beyond her ability to address and kept the discovery from the other cultivators.
• A gentle voice from a spirit boat asked Third Senior Brother whether they should investigate the Magic Beast riot.

Liu Qingqing joined the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples responding to a plea for help from West River City, where an abnormal second Beast Tide was expected that day. As the beasts approached, Jiang Lu hid Cangchen and Chi Li from Liu Qingqing, who sensed she might have missed something but dismissed the feeling.

• Liu Qingqing persuaded Third Senior Brother to head to West River City after the disciples received Chi Yan's plea for help.
• Xi Siyu questioned Chi Yan and learned that a second Beast Tide, apparently driven by an outside influence, would arrive that day.
• The Flowing Cloud Sect disciples organized with local cultivators to defend the city, and Jiang Lu ended up in Liu Qingqing's group.
• Jiang Lu hid Cangchen and Chi Li in her space before the beasts arrived, and Liu Qingqing briefly sensed something was amiss but looked elsewhere.
• Roars and an oppressive force signaled the beasts' approach, and everyone prepared for battle.

Jiang Lu and the others fought a pack of Demonic Qi-tainted beasts, which Liu Qingqing identified and destroyed with a powerful treasure. After resting, Liu Qingqing sensed something she urgently wanted deep in the forest and ran toward it, with Jiang Lu following.

• Jiang Lu and the cultivators prepared a defensive formation as a pack of enraged demonic beasts charged them.
• The group fought the beasts with spells and weapons, then subdued the first-rank beasts with difficulty.
• Liu Qingqing identified Demonic Qi on the beasts and used a golden steel ring's flames to destroy their corpses.
• The cultivators praised Liu Qingqing, then rested and recovered their spiritual power.
• Liu Qingqing felt a strong summons from deeper in the forest and ran toward it, followed by Jiang Lu.

Jiang Lu secretly followed Liu Qingqing and her companions to a giant tree, where Liu Qingqing obtained a Spirit Pearl tainted with Demonic Qi and awakened a dangerous plant. While the group fled the vines and Third Senior Brother came to their rescue, Jiang Lu found a green seed in the tree hollow and stored it in her space.

• Jiang Lu followed Liu Qingqing and her companions into the forest and watched them investigate a giant tree.
• Liu Qingqing used an offensive bracelet artifact to strike the tree, which released a Spirit Pearl tainted with Demonic Qi.
• Liu Qingqing put the Spirit Pearl into her storage pouch, and black-qi vines surrounded the group.
• One disciple burned a hole through the vines, and the group fled as the Tier-Two Spirit Plant pursued them.
• Jiang Lu entered the tree hollow and found a patterned green seed, which she stored in her space.
• Third Senior Brother arrived and cut through the vines, rescuing the injured disciples.

Jiang Lu collected valuable Ghost Vine after watching Xi Siyu rescue Liu Qingqing and the other disciples, then returned to find the expedition had little left to offer. The chapter ended with Elder Ye visiting the Medicine King Pavilion in West River City.

• Xi Siyu reunited with Liu Qingqing and reprimanded her for leaving the group, while the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples recovered from their injuries.
• After the disciples left, Jiang Lu emerged, gathered the Ghost Vine, and wondered whether Liu Qingqing was also from another world.
• Jiang Lu returned to her group and learned that many cultivators had left to search for opportunities.
• The captain announced that the Magic Beasts had been eliminated and advised the cultivators to return, since few resources remained.
• Jiang Lu left with the others and considered training in offensive and defensive spells and sword techniques.
• At the Medicine King Pavilion in West River City, Elder Ye spoke with the fawning branch pavilion master.

Jiang Lu practiced techniques through the night and refined ten high-grade second-grade pills, catching Elder Ye’s attention. He followed her to Alchemy Courtyard One and asked its branch master about the pill refiners there.

• Elder Ye asked whether the local elder had found any promising seedlings, then went to look around himself.
• Jiang Lu practiced her techniques and sword art while considering whether to leave Medicine King Pavilion, and her Spirit Beasts Chi Li and Cangchen slept as they refined energy from Spirit Pearls.
• Elder Ye watched Jiang Lu practice through the day and night, then saw her prepare second-grade pills.
• Jiang Lu refined ten high-grade second-grade pills, astonishing Elder Ye with her skill at Qi Refinement, Fourth Level.
• Elder Ye followed Jiang Lu to Alchemy Courtyard One and asked the West River City branch master how many pill refiners were there and how strong they were.

Elder Ye visited Courtyard One and offered its disciples a chance to demonstrate their pill-refining skills and pass the alchemist assessment. After Jiang Lu avoided the demonstration and later refined a pill in the medicinal garden, Elder Ye confronted her and checked her pulse.

• Elder Ye arrived at Courtyard One with Chi Miao and asked its alchemists and any other pill-refining disciples to demonstrate their skills.
• Jiang Lu went to the spiritual plant room to process plants for Senior Sister Huang Mei instead of joining the demonstrations, and Elder Ye grew angry when he realized she was not preparing to refine a pill.
• Several disciples finished refining pills, and Elder Ye declared some of them to have passed the assessment before leaving Chi Miao confused about his visit.
• Jiang Lu greeted Senior Sister Huang Mei and went to the medicinal garden, where she refined a pill; Elder Ye followed and asked why she had not demonstrated earlier.
• Jiang Lu said she did not need to rely on alchemy to survive yet, and Elder Ye asked her to hold out her hand and checked her pulse.

Elder Ye discovered Jiang Lu’s unusual meridians and asked her to become his disciple, but she mistook his offer for a scam and ran to warn Chi Miao. After Chi Miao explained who Elder Ye was, Jiang Lu reconsidered the offer.

• Elder Ye examined Jiang Lu’s meridians, was surprised by their breadth and flow, and asked her to test her Spiritual Roots, but she refused.
• Elder Ye decided Jiang Lu would make a suitable disciple and offered to become her master, while Jiang Lu grew suspicious of his motives.
• Jiang Lu ran to Chi Miao and accused Elder Ye of scamming him, prompting Elder Ye and the attendants to react with disbelief.
• Chi Miao explained that Elder Ye was powerful and genuinely wanted Jiang Lu as his disciple, and Jiang Lu realized she had misunderstood him.
• Elder Ye renewed his offer, promising Jiang Lu his belongings as his only disciple, and she began to consider accepting.

Jiang Lu became Elder Ye’s disciple and learned that her unusual Spiritual Roots might come from a rare Chaos Body. Elder Ye recognized her extraordinary talent and warned that her cultivation would require far more spiritual energy than usual.

• Jiang Lu agreed to become Elder Ye’s sole disciple after he promised to pass on his resources and protect her.
• Elder Ye formally recognized Jiang Lu as his disciple before the Medicine King Pavilion’s ancestor, and the Heavenly Dao sealed their bond.
• Elder Ye gave Jiang Lu an apprenticeship gift and questioned her about her Spiritual Roots after they returned to the courtyard.
• Jiang Lu explained that she could absorb spiritual energy of every color and had reached Qi Refinement, Fourth Level in about eleven months.
• Elder Ye tested Jiang Lu’s Spiritual Roots, identified her as likely possessing a Chaos Body, and explained its great cultivation demands.

After Elder Ye revealed Jiang Lu’s Chaos Spirit Root and Chaos Body, he left her in West River City while he handled a dangerous mission. Jiang Lu advanced her cultivation and studied new skills before Chi Miao invited her to seek opportunities in the Illusory Forest alongside Flowing Cloud Sect disciples.

• Elder Ye explained Jiang Lu’s rare talents, gave her a Spirit Slip, a jade pendant, and a Medicine King Pavilion ring, and told her to wait in West River City.
• Jiang Lu thanked the residents of Courtyard One and Senior Sister Huang Mei with gifts of spirit plants before settling into cultivation and study.
• Jiang Lu broke through to Qi Refinement, Fifth Level and practiced the Clear Moon Sword Technique and Wind Riding Art.
• Chi Miao told Jiang Lu that cultivators were heading to the Illusory Forest after Flowing Cloud Sect elders discovered opportunities there, and suggested she follow the sect’s disciples.

Jiang Lu prepared to follow the Flowing Cloud Sect’s expedition into the Illusory Forest and secretly watched the sects gather. The Three Upper Sects’ elders noticed her, but the Medicine King Pavilion ring she wore made them hesitate to approach her.

• Chi Miao advised Jiang Lu to follow the stronger Flowing Cloud Sect disciples and take advantage of the opportunities they uncovered.
• Jiang Lu discovered Chi Li had become a second-rank Spirit Beast, sorted through the treasures her master had left, and equipped herself for the journey.
• Jiang Lu entered the Illusory Forest and concealed herself while waiting for the Flowing Cloud Sect’s group to arrive.
• Jiang Lu saw Liu Qingqing among the gathered disciples and recognized Fu Yao, the Flowing Cloud Sect’s powerful chief senior sister, leading them.
• The Three Upper Sects’ elders watched Jiang Lu from afar but refrained from acting because she wore a ring associated with a direct disciple of the Medicine King Pavilion.

Jiang Lu followed Fu Yao and Liu Qingqing’s group, who found and collected Yellow Spirit Fruits after Liu Qingqing chose their route. After they left, Jiang Lu took the defeated demonic beasts and dug up nearby saplings for her space, where Lingxi welcomed them.

• Liu Qingqing suggested a route, and Fu Yao agreed to follow it without an argument.
• The group discovered two injured demonic beasts fighting beside a Yellow Spirit Fruit tree and collected its ripe fruit.
• After the group left, Jiang Lu stored the demonic beasts in her bag and dug up several saplings beneath the fruit tree.
• Lingxi gathered the saplings in Jiang Lu’s space and looked forward to filling the space with spirit plants.

Jiang Lu watched Liu Qingqing blame Fu Yao for pushing her during a fight, then searched the Crimson Reed Domain for spirit plants and unexpected gains. As Jiang Lu was about to leave, she spotted a tiny fiery-red mouse digging in the earth.

• Lingxi planted the Yellow Spirit Fruit sapling and tended to the other spirit plants in Jiang Lu's space.
• Liu Qingqing accused Fu Yao of pushing her, and Fu Yao rebuked Liu Qingqing for interfering in the fight with the Demon-Eyed Wolf.
• Xi Siyu and Lu Lingfeng defended Liu Qingqing, while Fu Yao warned them that the three of them would be sent to the forbidden grounds if Liu Qingqing caused trouble again.
• Fu Yao's group collected the Demon-Eyed Wolf and searched nearby, finding several spirit plants.
• Jiang Lu searched the Crimson Reed Domain for gains but found nothing, then noticed a tiny fiery-red mouse digging in the earth.

Jiang Lu found a Treasure-Seeking Mouse and secretly followed Liu Qingqing’s group into the middle region, where a powerful Magic Beast appeared. The hidden elder intervened to protect the gathered disciples as the beast attacked.

• Jiang Lu pulled a wood-attribute crystal from the earth, gave it to a little mouse, and put the mouse in her cloth pouch.
• Chi Li recognized the mouse as a supposedly extinct Treasure-Seeking Mouse, and Jiang Lu continued following Liu Qingqing’s group in secret.
• Jiang Lu suspected the group was luring demonic beasts and that someone was watching them from the shadows.
• A level-five Magic Beast appeared, charged toward the cultivators, and forced Jiang Lu to reveal herself when its Demonic Qi attacked her.
• The hidden elder raised a protective barrier and emerged to face the Magic Beast.